Happy Birthday Mason!

Mason turned 8 WOW! Again where did the time go? I swear life is just flying by. I told Mason that and he says it is God. That he prayed and asked God to make everything fly by so he could be a grown up quickly.
Mason wanted a football cake (surprise, surprise). But this time he wanted a flag football cake instead of a Laker cake.

Halloween and Fall Fun

Last time we were at the lake the kids played in the leaves with their cousins. They all had a blast!


A couple days before Halloween we carved our pumpkins. One pumpkin was fun, two wasn't bad, but by the ninth one I was so over pumpkins! Ryan carved 6 of them, and he did a wonderful job.

We had mummy pizza for dinner on Halloween.
The kids trick or treating at Hy-Vee.
Sitting with their pumpkins. We lost one of the pumpkins before Halloween.
Having a blast with our friends walking all around the neighborhood.
Candy, candy, and more candy. Yummy!!!

Our First Mizzou Game!

The kids all ready for the game in their new shirts.
We went to our first Mizzou game and we had lots of fun!Jodie's favorite part of the night was playing in the grass. She even threw grass at the kid that was passed out in front of her (like I said wow! you never know what you are going to see!).
Mason was in heaven! Unfortunatly we left at half time because the girls were tired, and the rain was coming quickly.
game.

Sports, sports, and more sports!

Sports and activities have now taken over our lives. Ryley is now doing gymnastics and soccer, and Mason is playing football (which is two nights a weeks and games on Sunday). Ryley's first soccer game was very interesting. Some of the kids on her team (including her) have never played soccer so the games are funny. She says she is having lots of fun, so really that is the only thing that matters!

Plus, she looks super cute in her soccer uniform.
Mason's first football game. He was so excited! His team won 12-0, but of course we don't keep score. Mason is the quarter back again this year and doing a great job not only with his job, but also being a good role model/leader for the whole team. He was able to score one of the touchdowns on a fake. Very cool!

Ryley was able to go and perform at the Holiday Inn Expo Center the other day. She had lots of fun "showing" off.
Ryley stretching for gymnastics.

The Zoo

A couple weeks ago we went on a field trip to the zoo. We are learning all about animals and their habitats. Ryan took the day off of work and Erin came too. We all had a wonderful time and I think the kids even learned a few things.

Here is Jodie in the kids petting area, driving a boat.

Mason has always loved the hippo. I think it is just because you crawl through his mouth and come out his butt.
One of the best parts of the day was visiting the stingrays. They were amazing and fun to pet. The kids all fed them and no one fell in.

After a long day we rode the train all around the zoo. Of course the kids all wanted to ride with Aunt Erin.

School has started.

School has started and is going quite well! We are enjoying the time together (most of it anyways), and the kids seem to be adjusting very well. Once in awhile I hear "I want to go back to Public School", or "I miss my friends", but that is short lived. Since Mason sees friends on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sundays and Ryley sees some of her friends on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Plus we play with the neighbors every chance we get.

Here are a couple of the things we have been doing. These pictures are our Shel Silverstein pictures. We are doing an author study on him and tried to imitate his drawings. The first set is Ryley's.The tree is mine.
This set is Mason's and they come from the book The Missing Piece (one of our favorites!).
This is music class. Last week we decided to use our drums to keep a steady beat. The kids did great with this activity and loved playing their drums very very loud!!!!
After drumming the kids wanted to play all the instruments that we have. Jodie loved playing her little piano (I think it is about time for a big one.).

So overall school is going great. I am learning as I go along and hopefully the kids are learning and enjoying this journey!!!!!

Ryley is growing up!

Cute new earrings!Getting so big!
Yeah Ryley. Her new earrings are pink sparkly flowers and they are perfect for her!